Skimmer protector

ABSTRACT

A hollow, blow-molded body of resilient, resin material is screwed into the intake pipe of a swimming pool skimmer to extend into the walled region of the skimmer to provide a compressible body absorbing the expansion of ice during winter freezeup of the pool.

0 United States Patent r 13,552,567

[72] Inventor Geo g P [56] References Cited Whitney ROBd, Fair-port, N-Y- [21] Appl. No. 1,216

3,316,934 5/1967 Sowers 210/169X [22] Filed Jan. 7, 1970 [45] Patented ,Ian 5 1971 3,306,448 2/1967 Baker 2l0/169X v 3,443,264 5/1969 Miller 210/169X Primary Examiner-Sarnih N. Zahama 54] SKIMMER PROTECTOR Attorney-Cumpston, Shaw and Stephens 6 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 210/169, ABSTRACT: A hollow, blow-molded body of resilient, resin 210/251 material is screwed into the intake pipe of a swimming pool [51] Int. Cl E04h 3/20 skimmer to extend into the walled region of the skimmer to [50] Field of Search 210/169, provide a compressible body absorbing the expansion of ice 232, 251, 541, 542 during winter freezeup of the pool.

19 O] H I \r I l ll l 1 1 I I l I 'Pmmmmsm 3,552,567

INVENTOR. GEORGE F. ARP

ATTORNEYS 1 SKIMMER PROTECTOR THE INVENTIVE IMPROVEMENT SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The inventive device is a hollow, substantially closed, blowmolded body of resilient resin material having a cylindrical projection on one end with external screw threads threaded into the intake pipe of a swimming pool skimmer. The body of the device extends from the intake pipe to be compressibly disposed within the walled region of the skimmer to absorb the expansion of ice.

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows an elevational cross-sectional view of a swimming pool skimmer having the inventive protector installed in place; and I FIG. 2 is a plan view of the skimmer of FIG. 1 with the cover removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Skimmer 10 includes an inlet passageway havingaweir 12 leading to a walled chamber 14 having acoiver 13 mean" intake pipe 15 for drawing water from the pool to the pump and filter (not shown). Skimmer 10 can have many different shapes and sizes and can open in various ways to a pool. Also, various pipes can lead from intake pipe l tothe pool filtration equipment. Most of the multitude of such skimmer arrangements can be protected by the inventive device.

Blow-molded body 16 is hollow, substantially closed, and formed of resilient resin material. Body 16 is generally cylindrical as illustrated, and has a diameter larger than intake pipe 15. The generally cylindrical shape is preferred for ease of blow-molding, but body 16 can have other shapes if desired. Many materials are suitable for forming body 16, and the preferred materials are synthetic, thermoplastic resins such as polyethylene.

A cylindrical projection 17 extends downward from body 16 and has external threads 18 threaded into the internal threads in intake pipe 15. Most swimming pool skimmers have a 1% inch tapered pipe thread in intake pipe 15, so that projection 17 preferably has a matching 1% inch tapered pipe thread 18 for turning into pipe 15. However, projection 17 and threads 18 can be made in different sizes to fit different intake pipes as desired.

At the top of body 16 a crossbar projection 19 extends upward and is arranged diametrically of intake pipe 15 to afford ,a finger grip for screwing body 16 into pipe 15. Crossbar i9 serves as a sort of wing nut and can have any convenient shape for such purpose.

To install the inventive protector, it is merely necessary to remove cover 13 and screw body 16 into pipe 15 by gripping and turning crossbar 19.-With body 16 threaded in place, intake pipe 15 is protected from ice or debris, and body it) extends above intake pipe 15 into the walled region of skimmer 10 where it can be compressed by expanding ice to protect walls 14 from ice pressure. The resilient material forming body 16 and the air it contains are readily compressed by the expanding ice. After the ice season, body 16 is unscrewed and removed to ready the pool for use.

Persdns wishing to practice the invention should remember that other embodiments and variations can be adapted to particular circumstances. Even though one point of view is necessarily chosen in describing and defining the invention, this should not inhibit broader or related embodiments going beyondfthe semantic orientation of this application but falling within the spirit of the invention. For example, many sizes and configurations of the inventive protector device can be used within the spirit of the invention.

I claim: 5 1. In a swimming pool having a skimmer including a walled region and an intake pipe, a device for protecting said skimmer from ice damage, said device comprising:

a. a hollow; substantially closed, blow-molded. body of resilient resin material; b. one end of said body having a cylindrical projection;

c. said projection having external screw threads threaded into said intake pipe; and

d. said body extending from said intake pipe to be compressibly disposed within said. walled region.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the other end of said body has a small hole.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said body is generally cylindrical in shape.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said body has a iarger diameter than said intake pipe.

5. The device of claim I wherein the other end of said body has a projection arranged diametrically relative to said intake pipe to afford a finger grip for screwing said body into said intake pipe.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein said body is generally cylindrical and has a larger diameter than said intake pipe. 

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the other end of said body has a small hole.
 3. The device of claim 1 wherein said body is generally cylindrical in shape.
 4. The device of claim 3 wherein said body has a larger diameter than said intake pipe.
 5. The device of claim 1 wherein the other end of said body has a projection arranged diametrically relative to said intake pipe to afford a finger grip for screwing said body into said intake pipe.
 6. The device of claim 5 wherein said body is generally cylindrical and has a larger diameter than said intake pipe. 